Lubna Al Qasimi Holds Talks with Bill Gates

During the meeting, Shaikha Lubna stated that the UAE’s developmental and humanitarian efforts around the world are based on alleviating the effects of humanitarian crisis where ever they may occur and that the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership under the command of the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan constantly reaffirm the importance of global humanitarian partnerships, as was demonstrated in General Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces’ initiative on Wednesday 24th April 2013 to pledge the allocation of USD 120 million [AED 440 million) in support of global efforts to eradicate polio by 2018, a move that she said will reverberate in the decades to come as an affirmation of the UAE’s global humanitarian supportive role.

The Minister also expressed the UAE’s appreciation of its partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, stating that the Foundation offers a distinguished and admirable example through its social responsibility efforts, commending the numerous successes it achieved over the past few years in humanitarian and charity work.

For his part, Gates expressed his appreciation of Gen Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s initiative, stating that the pledge exceeded all expectations and that it will greatly aid streamlining and expediting the implementation of the mechanisms that are in place to eradicate Polio.

He also commended the UAE’s various other humanitarian and developmental efforts, especially in providing assistance to refugees and supplying food aid to drought stricken countries, as well as its other relief works.

The meeting, which was attended by officials from both sides, also discussed; joint collaboration; the global humanitarian work map; the global state of affairs; top priority issues; coordinating positions; effective engagement; evaluating present humanitarian crisis and their proposed solutions; overcoming the difficulties associated with the delivery of aid, immunisations and medicines - especially to the healthcare systems of impoverished countries; exchanging information and technological expertise; building trust with targeted communities; and further developing existing communication, cooperation and coordination channels between the two sides.